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Instagram changes T & C

Instagram, the photo-sharing service that
Facebook bought out this year, has announced changes to its Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service.

The company said today in a blog update
that the changes will go into effect on January 16, and will in no way change
how it handles photo ownership or who is able to see a user's pictures.
However, the updated privacy policy will allow Instagram to share user
information with its corporate overlord, Facebook.

"This means we can do things like
fight spam more effectively, detect system and reliability problems more
quickly, and build better features for everyone by understanding how Instagram
is used," Instagram wrote today on its blog.

A key component in the Privacy Policy
change, however, includes mention of "Affiliates." Instagram doesn't
specifically identify which companies are considered affiliates, but the
company does note that they're providing their "own services (including
providing you with better and more relevant experiences)." In other words,
advertising could be included.

Facebook announced earlier this year that
it would acquire Instagram for $1 billion, and closed the deal in September. At
that time, Instagram announced that over 5 billion photos had been shared
across its network.

Instagram's privacy policy change will likely
not arouse as much suspicion as Google's did earlier this year when that
company announced its broad modifications. The privacy policy caught the ire of
regulators around the world who demanded changes. For its part, Google has been
steadfast in its contention that the privacy policy helps both the search giant
and its users.